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Good leaders are constantly seeking knowledge and new ways to learn, writes Art Markman. "There are no shortcuts to having high-quality knowledge, but effort spent learning new things effectively repays itself handsomely in the long run," he writes.

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The most creative people are persistent but also realistic, writes Art Markman. "Just because you have already spent a lot of time or money on a project does not mean that time will have been wasted if you walk away from the project," he writes.

Creativity is a skill like any other, and it's one people need to learn and practice, writes Art Markman. He advises actively working to deepen your understanding of the field you're working in, and asking yourself questions about the problems you're trying to solve to access new ways of viewing and thinking.

The Segway was supposed to change the way we travel, but it wound up being used mostly by mall cops and tour guides, writes Art Markman. That shows the importance of encouraging dissent and skepticism in the product-creation process, Markman writes.

Hiring an executive coach is a sign of strength, writes Glenn Laumeister. "Having the foresight to realize that your organization can benefit from outside advice and guidance shows your colleagues and employees that you are open to asking for expert help to do whatever it takes to succeed," Laumeister writes.

Companies need to foster "smart thinking" among their workers to cope with the changing nature of doing business, writes Art Markman. That means encouraging focus and transparency, and not dumbing down your internal communications. "Gaining true understanding of complex situations requires effort. ... If there is something that people need to understand, encourage everyone to dig in and work on it," Markman writes.